Recap: Arizona Roots Festival 2019

Arizona
The Festival Grounds
The festival was set up very well, with lots of room to wander and peruse different products from a variety of vendors. The whole event felt very spacious, with ample room for people to sit down, whether on the ground or on blankets that they brought. Wooden picnic tables and chairs were dotted by close to the main stage and some of the food vendors for people who wanted to eat their food and listen to music. Water stations were also provided.

Photo by Grand Scheme Views

Photo by Grand Scheme Views
Two music stages are placed on different ends of the event center, one smaller one and one larger one. Food vendors were aplenty, with two drink bars on opposite sides of the event. There

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn
Additionally, A live-graffiti-art section also featured some graffiti artists showing off their skills on large blackboards. People paused to watch in awe and snap photos of the artists in action. A huge metal lion with a green, red, and yellow Rastafarian mane was a cool interactive art car with red seats where people could sit and listen to music. They could also go to the second upper level of the art car and look over everyone below and enjoy the view. A red, furry velvet seat at the mouth of the lion was also a popular photo spot for people.

Photo by Grand Scheme Views

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn
About the Music
To begin, the music started at
The lineup of bands was set up in such a way that there were never two bands playing at the same time. This was a very smart and considerate move of the organizers, so people could get food and check out vendors while waiting for the other band at a different stage to set up. This New Zealand band, Katchafire, was at the Arizona Roots stage (also the larger main stage). five -piece band was lively and fun. Their sound was reggae-rock, with groovy and uplifting vibes. The lead singer’s smooth voice blended perfectly with the horns. The band was tight, with catchy inflections, electric guitar solos and slick, sexy lines from the saxophonist.
More about the Music
Hailing from Flagstaff, AZ, Tha ‘Yotties had a unique musical setup. With a flutist and weird-sounding melodies produced with a sitar-like guitar effects pedal, the music seemed almost hauntingly eerie and wonderful. This band had people swaying along to the music, charmed by the tunes. There was not much singing, it was mostly experimental sounds and songs. Flow artists spun around gracefully to the music, with hoops and other dance props.

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn
Trevor Hall was clearly one of the bigger artists, as many people congregated to see him. His music was an artful blend of roots and folk music. His smokey, husky voice, akin to John Mayer’s, conveyed power and emotion that the crowd seemed to feel. Shivers ran through the crowd as he sang his melodies. He displayed
Clint Stevens was a fast-paced band with lots of jazzy elements in their music. They had multiple horns, and it sounded groovy and fun. Many of the band members also had their shades on, which gave them a mysterious vibe. This seven-piece reggae/funk/rock band kept everyone’s hips
The Audience
The crowd for the whole event seemed somewhat older, about early-to-late twenties and onwards. There

Hammocks for people to relax in
Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn
Lots of Rastafarian clothing and loose, tie-dye clothing was common amongst the audience. As well, there was also a few hammocks for people to lay on and relax in. The organizers had also, considerately, set-up an ADA section facing the main stage. Medical professionals were also on-site to provide medical attention if so needed. In the end, the weather was cold, but it did not seem to bother anyone. Everyone came adequately prepared in layers, rugged
The Last Day
On Sunday, there was an energy and vibrancy from rapper, Xiuhtezcatl, who was at the Rawhide Stage. A passionate activist, he spoke about minorities and being a powerful, peaceful force among society. This message seemed to sit well with the crowd as they nodded in agreement.

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn
The band, Dispatch, was on at the main stage as one of the final bands that day. The crowd’s favorite songs seemed to be the ones where the two band members harmonized together. There were horns, and a big-band sort of feel, with some acapella tunes thrown in. The duet was done wonderfully, with the girl’s powerful voice blending in with the guy’s perfectly. It was one of the most moving parts of the event.

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn

Photo courtesy of Jacob Tyler Dunn
Finally, this event signified a beautiful new beginning, as the brand spreads its roots further into fresh territory. Fans also responded well to the many vendors with green environmental initiatives and information about partnerships with nonprofits. This event was a huge success, judging by the crowd’s response to it and
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